New Hampshire Senior News in Brief

Free Nashua workshop to look at ‘Gizmos, Gadgets & Home Safety’

NASHUA — Seniors can take a virtual tour of a home and learn how to create and maintain a safe environment as they age during a free “Gizmos, Gadgets & Home Safety” workshop at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Nashua Senior Activity Center, 70 Temple St.

The workshop will include an entertaining, interactive session on some of the new innovations that empower seniors, caregivers and adults with disabilities to help maximize their independence, comfort and safety at home.

Ray Mailloux, president and CEO of Community House Calls, will present the workshop. He is a senior health care executive with more than 25 years of experience in health care management and social services. Mailloux also is a certified aging in place specialist and has held leadership roles on local, state and national boards that promote the living and health care needs of seniors.

Preregistration is suggested for the workshop, which is an outreach program of Seniors Count-Nashua. To sign up, call Beth Todgham, Seniors Count facilitator, at 889-3440 ext. 132.

Workshop participants may come early for lunch offered from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. by St. Joseph Community Services in the center’s cafeteria. A $5 donation is requested for diners younger than 60; $2 for 60 and older. Preregistration for lunch is required; call Steve, SJCS site manager, at 882-2106.

The workshop is one of a series of free programs offered on the second Monday of each month at the senior center by Seniors Count-Nashua, a program of Southern New Hampshire Services. The October workshop is a day later because of the Columbus Day holiday.

AARP driving program schedules October classes

The AARP Driver Safety Program has announced the October lineup for its driving refresher course.

The usually two-part class, which is open to any age driver but geared to people over 50, costs $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required.

The class covers such information as defensive driving techniques and age-related changes to vision, hearing and reaction time. The course is a combination of discussion and videos; there are no written or driving tests.

The seminar, in partnership with Blue Moon Evolution and Tracey Miller Wellness, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., including lunch, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at RiverWoods’ Boulders campus, 5 Timber Lane. A question and answer session will follow.

Wednesday is the deadline to sign up. To RSVP, call 658-3014 or email dburch@riverwoodsrc.org.

Guest presenters will be Tracey Miller of Tracey Miller Wellness and Kathy Gallant, owner of Blue Moon Evolution restaurant. They are co-founders of the Food and Health Forum.

The speakers say a proper diet strengthens the body, improves the mind, fortifies defenses against disease and illness and leads to greater mental sharpness and faster physical healing.

They will share practical tips for easily transforming meals without breaking the bank or spending all day in the kitchen.

RiverWoods also has scheduled its next “Three-Course Conversation” for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Woods campus, 7 RiverWoods Drive.

The free luncheon program for people curious about what life is really like at a retirement community provides three luncheon courses, along with RiverWoods residents and in-house experts to open up different conversations at each table. The topics for this session will be “Timing, Timing, Timing: Lifestyle, Availability and Health Qualifications.”

Seating is limited. To RSVP, call 658-3014 or email dburch@riverwoodsrc.org.

CCREA to host meeting for NH retired educators group

KEENE — The Cheshire County Retired Educators Association will host a meeting and luncheon for the New Hampshire Retired Educators Association on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Papagallo’s Restaurant on Route 12.

Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by a business meeting, entertainment and the luncheon. The cost for the event is $25.

Jason Purdy, an internationally known illusionist and a Keene native, will entertain before the luncheon.

Norma Walker and Mary Parker will greet members and guests as they enter the event, which is the New Hampshire Retired Educators Association’s fall meeting. All CCREA and NHREA members are urged to attend.

Both organizations consist of retired teachers, administrators and educational support staff. CCREA members live in or formerly worked in Cheshire County. The NHREA is open to all retired educators.

Anyone interested in attending the meeting should call Ken Whitaker at 827-3702.

Families First schedules 2 ‘Senior Years’ workshops

PORTSMOUTH — Families First Health & Support Center, 100 Campus Drive, will offer two workshops in October as part of its “Senior Years” series.

“Living with Dementia and Caring for the Caretaker,” scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, will provide information about the disease, look at care concerns and options and identify emotional challenges that affect the caretaker. It will cover home safety and driving concerns; getting into their world; how to positively interact; caretaker options and involving the family; and legal and financial considerations.

“Embracing and Empowering Your Retirement,” scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, will teach skills and strategies and start to identify the plans that will make retirement fulfilling, rewarding and productive. It will cover work, leisure, health, personal development and relationships.

Advance signup is required for the workshops. For more information or to sign up, call 422-8208 ext. 2 or go to FamiliesFirstSeacoast.org/programs.cfm.

Detective Pat Kilbreth and Detective Ed Pike of the Dover Police Department will conduct the seminar. The public is invited to attend.

The detectives will discuss how seniors can protect their bank accounts, Social Security numbers, how to maintain sensitive information and how to avoid being a victim of fraud and identity theft, which is the fastest growing crime in the United States. Each year, more than 9 million Americans fall victim to identity theft, and seniors are an especially vulnerable target.

They also will highlight any current scams that are being perpetrated on seniors.

Those who RSVP in advance are invited to stay for lunch at Maple Suites after the seminar at 12:30 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, call Maple Suites at 742-8820.

Chapin Senior Center plans flu shot clinic

NEW LONDON — The Chapin Senior Center, 37 Pleasant St., will host a flu shot clinic by the Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15. Those who have insurance, should bring their insurance cards. The cost is $25 if paying with cash or check. LSRVNA will directly bill Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Harvard Pilgrim, Medicare, Medicare Advantage and New Hampshire Medicaid.

The center’s bike group will take its last ride for the season on Thursday.

The Breakfast Club book discussion group will discuss “A Death in Vienna” by Frank Tallis when it meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The center plans a Vincent Price Halloween surprise during its Sunday at the Movies program, which will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 13.

Movie & Pizza Night at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, will feature “August Rush.” To sign up for the Pizza Night or for more information about any activities, call the center at 526-6368.

Senior Mahjongg group to start Oct. 15 in Derry

DERRY— The Marion Gerrish Community Center, a nonprofit organization that provides meeting space for local groups, clubs and organizations, is hosting a six-week Mahjongg class to teach area seniors the ancient Chinese game. The class is full, but it will be rolling directly into a senior Mahjongg group that will meet from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Oct. 15.

All senior Mahjongg players are welcome to attend the group and play together.

Martha Tomanelli, who has been playing the game for 35 years and teaching it for 10 years, is providing the instruction, with assistance from Linda Patkin. The game, which is typically played with four people, uses a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols and involves skill, strategy and calculation.

The community center hosts a variety of activities for seniors, including Bridge from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays; Uno from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays; Bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays with the Parks and Recreation Department; Cribbage 9 to 11 a.m. Fridays; and Forty Fives from 1 to 4 p.m. Fridays.

“With the addition of Mahjongg on Tuesdays, we have a senior activity here at the Marion Gerrish Community Center every day of the week,” said Sarah Garvin, the community center’s director.